May 9

The mid-afternoon temperatures are in the low 60’s, under mostly cloudy skies as I hike on a little-known park trail in the small village of Sumner, 10 miles SW of Alma. In 1854 the land was settled by George Bell and Titus Stover. The two had difficulty in deciding what to name this new community. George referred to it as ‘Belltown’ and Titus called it ‘Stover’. In 1855, the township was titled ‘Sumner’, named after another early settler, Charles Sumner. Finally, in 1887 the village decided to avoid confusion by switching its name to ‘Sumner’ once and for all. At that time it was a thriving lumber town with four churches, cobbler shop, general store, hardware store, harness shops, hotel (stock photo), meat market, millinery store, saloons, sawmill, schoolhouse and wagon shop. From the car, I head west and pause to watch the water of the rain-swollen Pine River flow rapidly past. From the riverbank where I spot a couple of Muskrat holes, I veer unto a grassy trail displaying blossoms of Woodland Violet and Chickweed. Up ahead, I scan the flooded floodplain where I listen to Robins and Redwing Blackbirds while looking at the lush green leaves of Skunk Cabbage. Also, through a window of fallen branches, a swimming Mallard drake catches my attention. As the trail loops back, I come upon the uniquely shaped leaves of Blood Root. Next, I pull up and break a root to reveal the red-orange sap that gives this plant its name. This “blood” was a traditional medicine used by American Indians to treat fever and rheumatism. Other traditional uses were for treatment of ulcers, ringworm and skin infections. It was, and still is, used to produce natural red, orange, and pink dyes. Currently, Bloodroot is being studied for use as an anti-cancer agent, particularly for the treatment of skin cancer and as a dissolving agent for skin growths such as warts. Nearby, I pause, look up at the leafless canopy and listen to the song of what sounds like a Baltimore Oriole. After, stopping to observe the white blossoms of a young Service Berry tree, I chase after a fluttering Cabbage White Butterfly that finally lands. These Lepidopterans are seen flying around from now to late fall. Their larvae are velvety-green with a row of yellow spots running laterally along the body (stock photo). In the US, the caterpillar is known as a cabbageworm and is a common pest on cultivated vegetables like cabbage (thus the name), horseradish, kale, radish, and broccoli. 

Signs of the season

Timid and bold

Out of the mud

Marsh Marigold

Peepers in pond

Killdeers on high

Landing on litter

Cabbage Butterfly

Creepers climb

Bluebells ring

Nature’s glory

Expressions of spring

 

D. DeGraaf